Vesternet have launched an on-line graphical planner for designing your Home Automation system.  In addition they have created a range of 6 Z-Wave starter bundles, designed to simplifying the process of getting your smart home system started.  Check out the link and the full PR after the jump...

Our guest blogger - The Masked installer - returns again. This time he shares his straight talking opinion from inside the Integrator industry on the ever popular Sonos multi-room music system...

In the latest of our 'My Automated Home' series, Martyn Wendon shows us round the four Nodes of his smart home set-up.  Covering a decade of his retro-fitted tech, the sub systems are plentiful and include lighting, heating, AV, CCTV, utility monitoring, xAP, xPL, 1Wire, HomeEasy, RFXCom, X10, Z-Wave and more!.  So grab a coffee, sit back and geek out..

xAP is an open Home Automation Protocol, created by Automated Home readers almost a decade ago.  It allows many disparate systems to talk to each other - for example your Caller ID interface could send packets to your Joggler to display details when someone rings.  Or perhaps you need your Comfort Alarm system to be able to control to your C-Bus lighting?  All do-able with xAP.  Recent discussions on our forums have lead to a new beginners guide / tutorial on setting up and running xAP in your own home and with the kind permission of the author,  we've re-created it here

You know that old adage, under-promise and over-delivery.  Well looks like Apple have used that to make a lot of people very happy today by delivering the first batch of pre-ordered iPads a day early!  We were there to order ours when the virtual doors opened at 1:00am back on the 10th and the slab of 64GB Wi-Fi goodness just landed on our desk! (we'll be using our MiFi unit for cellular access when we take the iPad on the road).

Remember Apple stores open early tomorrow morning (8:00am) and we hear branches of Currys will have units for sale on Friday too.  Here are a few of the top rated apps we've already downloaded all ready to sync across...

Current Cost have announced they are the next Google PowerMeter partner in the UK.  Users of existing units can purchase a USB now to get started sending their usage data up to the Google service, or you can buy a package complete with the meter and a cable too.  Links after the jump...

As predicted by many tech pundits over the last few weeks, Google have just announced their TV / Web love child - Google TV.  Coming this Autumn the system will be available built into some new TV sets or as a set-top box for existing ones. Offering a search box superimposed over your TV picture it will find shows and other media from the live channels available to you, plus internet and other media sources.

The CEDIA Home Technology Event takes place at ExCeL in London from the 14-17 June 2010.  As ever this will be an invaluable event for custom installers, mixing a showcase of the latest products and technologies with training courses aimed squarely at integrators.  To download your PDF copy of the Seminar Guide, visit www.hometechnologyevent.co.uk  

This morning Sonos have released v3.2 of their software.  New features included Cross Fading and the ability to use two S5's as a stereo pair.  But for us the joy is that at last, the alarm setup screen finally allows you to pick individual days!  Read on for the full PR...

The guys over at 'We Got Served' have got their hands on the preview beta of the next version of Windows Home Server, codenamed 'Vail'.  With dozens of screen shot and details on what's new, the WGS low-down on the new WHS is pretty all encompassing.  Head on over and check out each of the Deep Dives along with the forum posts from users putting the beta through its paces...